Presentation device with automatic extending support

[0002] Many different kinds of portfolios, display binders, books, and folders exist, which hereinafter will be referred to generally as folders. Some well known types include three ring binders, spiral-bound notebooks and clasped folders. These are used to retain individual sheets, usually of paper, so that they can viewed as if they were bound in a book. Sometimes clear envelopes are included to retain and protect flat items for later display or study. These retained items typically include warranties, magazine clippings, reports and graphs, certificates, legal documents, photographs and negatives, collectible stamps and any other flat items including pressed flowers or other organic samples, where clear, usually plastic, envelopes can provide safe storage and display. When relatively bulky items are to be stored and displayed, it is desirable to provide some sort of positive closure so that the display pages are protected by the relatively stiff outer binding.

[0003] When viewing what is stored within such a folder, it is troublesome to find which of the pages include what material. Therefore, some folders, especially of the three ring type include index pages, usually of a relatively stiff material that have a tab that sticks out which when inserted between pages can indicate what is in the next section of the folder.

[0004] It is desirable that means be provided with the folder or attachable to the folder so that the folder can be propped up near vertical on a horizontal surface allowing display of the materials there within to a group or causal passers by.

[0005] The present invention includes a display folder with plurality of transparent display envelopes. It is preferable that the envelopes include an edge portion connected to the cover of the folder, a bottom side usually completely closed or sealed, an open top which may have a protective flap and an outer side with a plurality of slits formed therein. The slits may be an odd or even number, but when the slits are greater than four in number, even numbers of slits are preferred as such minimize the number of different index card that need be furnished. These index cards are formed to fit snugly within the envelopes, but have at least one cutaway inner corner on the opposite side from their tab to make insertion of the index card into an envelope easy. The index cards include index tabs positioned on a side edge to slip through a slit to provide an index tab for the envelope. When three silts are used in the various envelopes, pluralities of two or three separately formed index cards are provided, usually in the back of the folder when it is sold where multiple index cards can be stored in the back envelope. When four slits are provided in each envelope, pluralities of two different index cards can be formed for insertion through the slits while when six slits are provided in each envelope, pluralities of three different index cards can be formed for insertion through the slits.

[0006] As part of the outer cover of the folder, a relatively stiff outer spine reinforcement is include having an elastic cord connected near its top and bottom so that the cord can be looped around the folder spaced from the spine to retain the folder in a closed position. The upper portion of reinforcement may be permanently attached at the spine and slidably retained to the opposite covers by double buttons and slots whereas the lower portion, beneath a fold is retained by flexible ribbons. When the covers are moved apart, the elastic cord forces the lower portion outwardly until further motion is restrained by the ribbons to form a support for the folder. Thus the support automatically deploys when the folder is opened.

[0007] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light and economical indexed folder with an automatically deploying support for display of materials, which increases the utility of the folder, especially those equipped with transparent envelopes for the display of information on sheets that need to be indexed directly and held flat.

[0008] Another object is to provide a versatile display system for a folder or binder where the elastic cord for deploying the support also acts to retain the folder is a secure closed position.

[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed specification and drawings wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a folder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the folder of FIG. 1 showing how, when looped around both sides, an elastic cord holds the covers of the folder together;

[0012] FIG. 3 an enlarged detail view showing how the support for the folder is retained to the covers of the folder;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the folder of FIG. 1 with the elastic cord in position to deploy the support;

[0014] FIG. 5 is an edge view of the folder of FIG. 1 as the support is starting to deploy;

[0015] FIG. 6 is an edge view of the folder of FIG. 1 with the support fully deployed;

[0016] FIG. 7 is an underside view of the folder showing the restraints that restrict deployment;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a elevational view of the folder with its support deployed resting on a horizontal surface; and

[0018] FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the releasable connection of a restraint used to restrict the deployment of the support.

[0019] Referring to the Figures more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 in FIG. 1 refers to a folder constructed in accordance with the present invention including a plurality of transparent envelope pages 12. Although the folder 10 is shown as having transparent pages 12 permanently bound therein, in fact the folder 10 may be a looseleaf binder, a spiral bound notebook, a conventionally bound book or similar structure with front and rear covers 14 and 16 (see FIG. 2) that are relatively stiff.

[0020] The covers 14 and 16 are joined at a spine 18 so that they can be folded about the pages 12. The spine 18 and a portion of the adjacent covers 14 and 16 are enclosed by an outer support member 20 which extends from the top edge 22 to the bottom edge 24 of the covers 14 and 16. The support member 20 is attached to the covers by headed fasteners 25 and 26 which extend through holes 30 and 32 (FIG. 3) in each of the covers 14 and 16 and the support member 20 respectively. One of the holes 32 is an elongate slot to allow the support to fit adjacent the covers whether they are open or closed. The elongated slot 32 preferably is in a cover 14 or 16 so it is hidden from view for a neater appearance. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the covers 14 and 16 and the support member 20 can be maintained in a closed condition by looping an elastic cord 34 from its attachments 38 and 40 on the back portion 42 of the support member 20 around the front portion 44 thereof (FIG. 4). Otherwise the cord 34 may just extend between the attachments 38 and 40 in an stressed condition as shown in FIG. 4. The attachments 38 and 40 may just be holes in the support member 20 with knots (not shown) tied on the ends of the cord 34 on the opposite sides.

[0021] The support member 20 includes a spine portion 50, usually stiffened by ribs 52, positioned adjacent the spine 18 of the folder 10. The spine portion 50 is split into upper and lower spine portions 54 and 56 by a fold relief slot 58 in alignment with a horizontally extending centrally located fold 60 in the support member 20 which divides the support member 20 into upper and lower portions 62 and 64. The upper support member portion 62 is retained to the covers 14 and 16 by the fasteners 25 and 26. In addition, when the support member 20 is not an add-on to an existing folder 10, the upper spine portion 54 may be permanently attached to the spine 18 of the folder 10, such as by heat or sonic welding. Therefore the upper portion 62 of the support member 20 is retained to the covers 14 and 16 and moves with them.

[0022] When the covers 14 and 16 are opened so they extend on a single plane, no matter whether the elastic cord 34 was previously biasing the covers 14 and 16 in closed parallel positions by being looped about the support member 20 or in the stressed position shown in FIG. 4, the elastic cord 34 moves to the position shown in FIG. 4. This causes the lower portion 64 to deploy outwardly as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by folding out about the horizontal fold 60. If very stiff material is used that causes the fold 60 to be resistant to initial bending, then optional ribs 66 can be formed adjacent the atachments 38 and 40 to provide leverage for an increased starting force to assure that the lower portion 64 deploys.

[0023] One or more restraint ribbons 70 are connected between the lower portion 64 of the support member 20 and the bottom edge 24 of the covers 14 and 16. A memory crease 74 is centrally located in each restraint ribbon 70 so that they tend to fold up between the support member 20 and the adjacent cover 14 or 16 out of the way. The ribbons 70 can be seen in their normal placement in the underside view support deployed view of FIG. 7. When the lower portion 64 of the support member 20 is fully deployed and restrained against further deployment by the ribbons 70, the folder 10 can be placed the stable position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 on a horizontal surface 80 with the bottom edges 24 of the covers 14 and 16 and the bottom edge 78 of the support member 20 in contact therewith, to display the pages 12 therein.

[0024] When the support member 20 is removable, the ribbons 70, instead of being merely glued or welded to the covers 14 and 16, can be releasably attached to the covers 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 9 wherein the end 82 of a ribbon 70 has a triangle shaped tab 84 cut therein. The end 82 is wrapped under the bottom edge 24 and positioned in a slot 86 cut in the cover 14 or 16.

[0025] Thus, there has been shown and described presentation display folders which fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefore. Many changes, alterations, modifications, and other uses and applications of the subject invention, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification together with the accompanying drawings. All such changes, alterations, and modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.